Blog Posts – Page 2 – Laughing Zebra Art

Ten Great Recipes for Kids to Make and Eat

Every artist needs their fuel! I don’t normally share recipes but food is an art form itself and can be a fun and educational learning opportunity for kids!

1. Pretzel Bites

I love love love pretzels (and so do my kids) and there are so many great recipes out there but I really like this fun bite-sized twist on it. These are a great midday snack and always satisfy that carb craving! Try out different sauces to see which one you and your kids like best!

2. Mini Fruit Pizzas

Mmmhhhh. Looking for a good way to sneak some fresh fruit into your kids diets? I won’t claim this is super healthy, but it’s a great little treat for everyone. We used to make a big one of these for summer guests. The little ones work well for a snack or even a tea party!

3. Homemade Potato Chips

For a healthier alternative to a bag of chips, try creating these homemade potato chips! I love making my own chips because they are so much fun to make! You might not want to let your kids actually fry the chips (always be careful around hot oil) but they are sure to love coming up with unique chip flavor combinations (I love adding a little bit of garlic salt and paprika to mine).

4. Italian Sodas

These Italian sodas have always been a favorite with my kids. It’s one of the most simple and fun drinks to make! Customize them with whatever flavor (or flavor combinations) you love best and watch as the syrup colors mix with the soda water and cream! Hint hint.. This is a great alternative to canned soda and keeps kids wanting more!

5. Monte Cristo Sliders

Check out this delicious take on the classic Monte Cristo sandwich. Kids love the simple ingredients (cheese, deli meat, and jam) and they can help out with layering the ingredients. These are seriously so easy to make and definitely kid-approved.

6. Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

Looking for dessert? In a cup? Get the kid-friendly dessert proportions right with these peanut butter cup cupcakes (I’m so in love with Reeses, so why not have a cupcake version?) Just don’t forget to hide one away for yourself before they are all gone!

7. Funnel Cake Apple Fries

This easy and fun dessert puts funnel cakes on a whole new level – think deliciously golden apple fries. Be careful around the hot oil and have fun making these yummy desserts!

8. S’mores Pops

We have made these a lot over the years for parties and snacks. Something magical happens to the marshmallows when you dip them in the warm chocolate. These are even better than S’mores, in my opinion!

9. Frozen Sugar Grapes

These are easy to make with just two ingredients! I love how the sugar brings out the flavor of the grapes. Kids love eating these frozen little grape pops and they are a great addition to any tea party!

10. Garlic Parmesan Pull-Apart Bread

Pull-apart breads are always a win with people of all ages! This deliciously gooey bread gives pizza a run for its money. Try this as an appetizer or midday snack.

What’s your go-to recipe for cooking with kids? Let me know if the comments below!

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Ten Favorite Art Supplies for Kids

Supplies are so important when creating those masterpieces! Here are ten of my favorite supplies (and a few examples of lessons I use them in).

This page contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Everything on this page I have used and heartily recommend for teaching art.

1. Spectra Bleeding Tissue Paper

This is a fun way to create bleeding color that is natural looking. Kind of a magic process for kids. See it in action here on my Jim Dine Heart Art lesson!

2. Sargent Art Magic Liquid Watercolors

I love these and use them A LOT! They are so much easier to use than regular watercolors as the water is already mixed in! It allows the kids to paint faster and with more satisfaction. Also these are bright and vibrant colors when you use them at full strength (which I almost always do!).

These are the best brand of liquid watercolors out there that I have found. Some of the other brands have switched to a thicker gel formula that does not bleed the way these do and they also leave brush stroke marks when you paint. Check out how bright and colorful they are in my Jim Dine Brush lesson and the Paul Gauguin Palm Tree lesson.

3. Canson Montval 11x15 Watercolor Paper

This is the only watercolor paper I use. Right size and nice quality for student work.

4. Bee Bogus Recycled Paper

A fun texture for chalk pastel work.

5. Uniball White Gel Pens

These write and doodle a nice bright white and are easy to use.

6. Royal Big Kids Paint Brushes

These are VERY forgiving brushes. I use the round green handled ones in 3 sizes and also the flat red handled ones in 3 sizes. I’ve used these for years. Here is a link to the big set I use for classes and a smaller set to start off with!

7. Pacon Tru-Ray Black Construction Paper

Most black construction paper looks kind of faded gray but not this one! It is a deep black color and by far the best black construction paper I have come across.

8. Faber-Castell Soft Chalk Pastels

These are soft and lovely. A little pricey for a large group but worth the extra money in my mind. All chalk pastels are NOT created equal. You will be disappointed if you get a lesser quality as they don’t blend and smudge as well. Check out the #5 Demuth project to see how I used the black for outlining. This smaller size stick here is more cost efficient for big classes.

9. Cray-Pas Junior Artist Oil Pastels

These are the best student grade oil pastels out there. Good coverage and they blend well for layering.

10. Prismacolor NuPastels

These are a harder soft pastel for doing lines when you want color that stays and is sharp.

Let me know if you use any of these in the comments below (or if you have other favorite art supplies for kids)!

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Ten Favorite Art History Books for Kids

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Explore these art history books for some great educational fun! Artists typically have really interesting lives.

This page contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Everything on this page I have used and heartily recommend for teaching art.

1. Journey on a Cloud: A Children's Book Inspired by Marc Chagall

Whimsical book that reflects the style and feeling of a real Chagall painting. He was a dreamer and you get that feeling from this lovely book.

2. Henri Matisse: Drawing with Scissors

This book is written from a child’s point of view who is doing a report on Matisse. I like that it particularly talks about his cut paper art and shows some real life pictures of him and his artwork.

3. Why Is Blue Dog Blue?

This is a kid favorite! I have used this alot as a read aloud and kids love the rhythm and guessing involved for each page. Also who doesn’t love this Blue Dog? Check out George Rodrigue’s other books and his artwork on Google.

4. Sandy's Circus: A Story About Alexander Calder

Great illustrations in this one that tell the story of Alexander Calder’s life.

5. Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail

This author has a unique style and weaves a story about the artist that is entertaining while sharing information about the artist. He has several titles in his artist series including one on: Frida Kahlo, Edgar Degas, Vincent VanGogh, and Claude Monet.

6. Georgia O'Keeffe

I love these books. I have used these for years and they are entertaining to all ages. The kids love the comics and I love that the author shows the artist’s actual artwork and tells the story of their lives in a way that is interesting to kids. He also has books on composers and scientists.

7. A Walk in Monet's Garden

This is a neat little book that has a fold-out tour of Monet’s home and gardens and includes liftable flaps, screens that unfold, pull out buildings, and a figure of Monet at an easel. You can really feel like you are there with him. I got to visit Giverny last spring when I was in Paris and it is a beautiful place!

8. Uncle Andy's: A Faabbbulous Visit with Andy Warhol

This is a fun book that captures the imagination of kids. Andy Warhol led an interesting and somewhat unusual life and this book does a good job of talking about his art and gives you a look at his eccentric personality. He was one of a kind for sure!

9. The Great Wave: A Children's Book Inspired by Hokusai

I love this artist and you have probably seen his Great Wave of Kanagawa print somewhere as it is very famous. I lived in Japan for 4 years so this touches my heart in a special way. I love using this artist and book to talk about the unique country that Japan is and all the great art that is produced there.

10. Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance

This book is written from a child’s point of view who is doing a report on Degas. Fun illustrations and interesting facts are presented in a very kid friendly format. Love the style of this one!

Do you have favorite art history books for kids? Share them with me in the comments below!

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Ten Fun Projects for Kids

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Explore these projects for some kid friendly fun!

This page contains affiliate links and I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Everything on this page I have used and heartily recommend for teaching art.

1. Tinfoil Sculptures

Tinfoil sculptures that can be adapted for all ages.

2. Melted Crayon Rocks

All you need for this are rocks and crayons. Something so fun about this project and one I have done with lots of kids! (My own loved it)

3. Super Snazzy Painted Sticks

Beautiful painted sticks! Collect them on a walk then have fun painting them as a family!

4. Slime

Need I say more?

5. Really nice rocks

Great way to spread some kindness on your next walk! There are tons of great sites online for different ways to paint rocks. You can use just regular craft paint and small brushes. I also love using Uni Posca paint pens. They are opaque and cover so nicely. They come in 3 different sizes and tons of colors. (I ordered my set on here on Amazon)

6. Homemade Rain Stick

I have made these for an art camp with kids….so fun!

7. DIY Super Bouncy Ball

Just make sure not to do with really little kids (and watch out for the pets to).

8. Paper Kites

These DIY kites were a birthday party craft one year for my kids! Everyone had a blast with it.

9. Homemade Bows and Arrows

Homemade bows and arrows have provided hours of fun for my kids and their friends!

10. Magazine Beads

This takes some time and focusing…good for fine motor skills too!

Do you have favorite projects to do with kids? Share them with me in the comments below!

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Ten Links for Fun Kid-Friendly Art Sites and Videos

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Explore these sites and videos for a bit of kid-friendly artsy entertainment!

1. Art for Kids Hub

Here you’ll find all kinds of art lessons for kids, including how to draw for kids, even painting and origami for kids (including how to draw this adorable Love Monster).

2. Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence

Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence at Home (Mo doodles with you everyday at home during his lunch hour.

3. Alisa Burke - Redefine Creativity

This gal is so inspiring and her website is just plain fun to look at. Might get an idea or two for a project of your own!

4. Draw With Rob

Rob Biddulph, a London-based author and illustrator, is holding online art classes for kids stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch one of these time-lapse videos of drawings he has guided kids through.

5. A Beautiful Mess

Fun artsy crafty stuff on this site (like dying your own eggs)!

6. Art Camp - Women Inspired Projects

Celebrate women artists with some fun lessons.

7. Mod Podge Rocks - DIY Ransom Note Magnets

Fun with letters and one of my favorite art supplies – Mod Podge!

8. DIY Network

Lots of fun things to build on this site. A Cornhole game would be great entertainment for the whole family!

9. Impressionist Art Lesson for Kids

Make a cool impressionist landscape with oil pastels!

10. Ramon Carrasco's Art Vlogs

He is fun to watch and this guy will teach you how to draw like Picasso, Matisse , Kahlo, Haring and more!

Do you have favorite go-to sites for art inspiration? Share them with me in the comments below!

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Top Ten for the Next Ten

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My Top Ten for the Next Ten

To all you moms and dads at home with the kids…. I know you must be going a bit crazy by now trying to keep your kids occupied and content. As an art teacher and artist I always tended to gravitate toward an art project of some kind when my kids were home during school breaks. I guess it is what I am most comfortable with and art gets the creative juices flowing which tends to be relaxing and engaging at the same time. Plus there are hidden things to learn and skills to master. A win win! I thought I would throw out some projects/ideas to help you find some fun artistic outlets.

So, in honor of the 10th day off school for us here in Montana I am posting a list a day for the next 10 days of 10 crazy, exciting, unusual, artsy, fun things to keep your kids and you smiling and learning some new things.

Check back tomorrow for my first list (hint: This one will include some great videos and art sites for kids to explore)!

Musée d’Orsay

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If you go to Paris you Need to Visit this Museum

(And no, it isn’t the Louvre)

I’m just now having some time to write some posts from our trip to Europe last spring. So many pictures to wade through! And it was such a whirlwind of places, art, food and constant walking that it is hard to know where to start.

Thinking about Impressionism and how much I love so many of the artists in this movement so I am going to start with our visit to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It was definitely a highlight and one I had looked forward to for a long time. It did not disappoint. We went on one of the evenings when they are open late and just had a relaxed time enjoying all the art and imagining so many great stories of how it all came to be.

All the paintings that I had seen in countless books and prints were so much more breathtaking in person. I loved getting a close up look of Van Gogh’s brushstrokes and could just feel the energy and movement and angst that was so much a part of who he was as an artist. Going from one artist’s grouping to another (many of them were in the same room), I could finally get a real sense of this time in history and how these artists all played off one another.

Some of my favorites were the Degas pastels, Renoir’s dancing couples, Cezzane’s still lifes, Romare Bearden’s cut paper art (you could see the creased and faded paper and imagine his fingers cutting and pasting). Mary Cassatt’s luminous portraits were glowing with the play of color and light that so define her work. And of course Monet! (went to Giverny on this trip too…another post on that)! Hard to put into words the magic in this place and feeling an almost hushed awe of such incredible talent. The museum is housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900, and is such a beautiful building, a perfect setting for all this amazing art. And being located on the left bank of the Seine the location just adds to the feeling of stepping back in time.

If you love art and especially Impressionism and Post Impressionism (this museum holds the largest collection in the world) then you need to see this in person.

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Sennelier shop in Paris

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Sennelier Shop in Paris

When we were in Paris in June we stopped into the Sennelier shop. Don’t you just love an art supply store? This one is full of history and character. It is easy to imagine Cezzane, Degas and Gauguin squeezing their way through the tiny shop in pursuit of their cherished supplies. It was opened in 1887, amidst hundreds of other color merchants. (In 1885, there were 600 listed), and is still run by the Sennelier family. One of their claims to fame is that they created a special oil pastel for Picasso who came into the shop in 1948 with a request. He wanted to know if they could make a medium that could be used on any surface, without requiring a special coating. It took them a year to create the sticks of pigment that were waxy rather than chalky, and which could be used in thick, dense strokes. Picasso bought 40 of each of the 48 colors. They quickly became a sensation in the store and are still made today. Even though I know you can order these pastels online, I wanted to buy a few to take home from this amazing store. I also bought a few chalk pastels, imagining Degas himself using these. In fact he came into the store once and requested soft pastels in a range of browns, which they ended up developing a series of 700 shades in the medium, 30 of which became Degas’s own browns. And this is one of the things I so loved about Paris. Literally everywhere I went I felt caught in a moment in history and could really feel the sense of creativity and inspiration that must have been just thick in the air, as all of these artists, on the cusp of great discoveries were living and breathing in this space.

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